Peak incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) typically occurs weeks after total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty, long after hospital discharge. We investigated risk factors for acute PE occurring during index hospitalisation. Retrospective review of an IRB-approved database identified 329 arthroplasties performed by a single surgeon between 2002 and 2007 at two University teaching hospitals. Warfarin (goal INR 2.0) was standard venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.Introduction
Methods
Microdiscectomy involves substantial aggressive excision of disc material from the intervertebral space to prevent reherniation. However, the recent trend is towards conservative disc removal and simple fragment excision (sequestrectomy). To compare the clinical outcome of microdiscectomy and sequestrectomyBackground
Aim
Total disc replacement (TDR) provides an alternative to fusion that is designed to preserve motion at the treated level and restore disc height. The effects of TDR on spine biomechanics at the treated and adjacent levels are not fully understood. Thus, the present study investigated facet changes in contact pressure, peak contact pressure, force, peak force, and contact area at the facet joints after TDR. Seven fresh-frozen human cadaveric lumbar spines were potted at T12 and L5 and installed in a 6-DOF displacement-controlled testing system. Displacements of 15° flexion/extension, 10° right/left bending, and 10° right/left axial rotation were applied. Contact pressure, peak contact pressure, force, peak force and contact area for each facet joint were recorded at L2-L3 and L3-L4 before and after TDR at L3-L4 (ProDisc-L, Synthes Spine). The data were analysed with ANOVAs/t-tests.Introduction
Methods
